Software problem to blame for erroneous messages from ROM and ROMM

This article is more than 12 months old

Sep 14, 2018 06:00 am

A software error is to blame for text messages sent erroneously from the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) on Sept 9, the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth said in a joint statement. The error followed a system upgrade on the same day.

Chinese-language daily Lianhe Wanbao had reported on Monday that some of its readers, including a housewife and her husband, had received an SMS from ROM. The congratulatory message included a link to a feedback website.

The ministries said the software had wrongly sent messages to some past recipients. These were generic notifications, and did not mention names or personal details.

"Our investigations confirmed that there was no breach of personal data, and this was not the result of a cyberattack. We apologise...," the statement said.

The two registries have rectified the software issue and sent out SMS notifications on the same day to inform affected individuals.

"We are reviewing the system and will put in place additional measures to prevent this error from recurring," the ministries said.